German Survey: 70% In Favor Of Prescribing Cannabis Via Online Questionnaire
Germany’s medical cannabis industry is booming, thanks in large part to the rise of telemedicine. Telemedicine involves a potential medical cannabis patient using an online platform to seek approval for medical cannabis rather than going to a physical doctor’s office. It is a more convenient option for many patients, particularly those in rural areas and/or individuals with mobility issues.
Recent medical cannabis product import data demonstrates how fast Germany’s medical cannabis industry is growing. In the first quarter of 2025, Germany imported over 37.223 metric tonnes of medical cannabis products, a 457% increase compared to the same period from the prior year.
Medical cannabis telemedicine has become a popular target for lawmakers in Germany who are opposed to modernized medical cannabis policies, with many of those lawmakers expressing a desire to abolish the concept.
The German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW) recently conducted a survey asking, “What is your opinion on the possibility of obtaining prescription drugs by completing an online questionnaire?” The survey was conducted from May 26, 2025, to June 2, 2025.
“The majority of respondents support the option of obtaining prescription drugs via an online questionnaire. The survey responses were as follows: 49% support this procedure for both cannabis and other prescription drugs. 21% support it exclusively for cannabis.” BvCW stated in its recent newsletter (translated from German to English).
“Overall, 70% are in favor of prescribing cannabis via online questionnaire. 9% expressed a partly positive, partly critical attitude. 16% reject the approach in principle – regardless of the drug. 2.5% either rejected it only for cannabis or were undecided. No one expressed support exclusively for other drugs.” BvCW also wrote.
The survey was conducted following a major court decision in Germany, in which the North Rhine Chamber of Pharmacists successfully pursued a lawsuit in the Cologne Regional Court against a pharmacist who worked with a telemedicine platform.
“The AKNR considers the entire business model in this form to be illegal and has issued a warning to a pharmacist whom it believes to be the operator of the platform, a claim he denies. Among other things, the chamber sees this as impermissible advertising for remote treatment: According to Section 9 of the German Medicines Advertising Act (HWG), advertising for such treatment is only permitted in exceptional cases if, according to generally accepted professional standards, personal contact with the patient being treated is not necessary.” reported Pharmazeutische Zeitung in its local coverage (translated from German to English).
“However, the questionnaire is not a communication medium, and remote treatment is ruled out for the prescription of medical cannabis anyway, as it does not meet recognized professional standards.” the outlet also reported.
Germany’s Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) previously indicated that she intends to restrict online medical cannabis prescriptions, but as BvCW pointed out in their newsletter, “whether providers based abroad can be effectively stopped remains open.”